The latest update as of March 3, 2024

The first day of nitro qualifying on Friday is presented below. We're anxiously awaiting the final qualifying photos from Saturday and of course, eliminations on Sunday, but in the meantime, we've got a bit of work to do on putting captions to all the photos. Be patient, we're working on it. Remember to reload/refresh each time you visit to see the latest updates.

TOP FUEL - Qualifying Session #1

After making one appearance in 2022, at the season closing California Hot Rod Reunion (where he runner-upped), Pete Kaiser was back in the saddle at the March Meet. On his first competition pass in nearly 18 months he merely ripped off low e.t. of the first session with a very good 5.735, coupled with a booming 255.82 speed. Definitely no rust on the driver, the car, or the team.

(LEFT) Wheeling the "Overtime Special" to an early shutoff 6.043 - 188.20 was Tyler Hester. A decent start, but the incremental numbers indicated there was some serious performance lurking in the Donovan engine.

(RIGHT) Making the long trek from Michigan was veteran racer and chassis builder Shawn Bowen, but he didn't get the result he was looking for with a very early shutoff 6.589 - 144.15 from his late model Brad Anderson motor. After failing to qualify at last year's March Meet, he was certainly hoping for much better results this year.

(LEFT) The Sullivan & Stewart entry, with Shayne Stewart driving, failed to get a timeslip when he "double-stepped" on the loud pedal, leaving the line before the tree activated and received a "LB3A" (left before three ambers), and consequently, "no time recorded". With threatening weather in the forecast for the entire event, that mistake might cost them a chance to qualify.

(RIGHT) Joining the "click it early" brigade was Dusty Green, who ran strong to half track before slowing to a 6.232 - 194.46. Despite the early shutoff, it was good enough for Green to grab a (very) tenuous hold on the #8 spot.

FUNNY CAR - Qualifying Session #1

(LEFT) Despite the preponderance of Camaros and Firebirds in the pits, Jeff Utterback brought out the "Advanced Surfaces" old school Vega to take a shot at qualifying. He launched well, with the front wheels off the concrete, but the good vibes didn't last long as he shut down to an 11-second clocking.

(RIGHT) At the other end of the performance spectrum, Kamaka Pocock pushed Don Nelson's "California Hustler" to the #5 spot on the ladder with a very strong 5.728 - 246.84 run. A great start to their season.

(LEFT) Following on the heels of a very strong 2023 season, Geoff Monise and the "Quarter Pounder" team picked up right where they left off, blasting into the 5.60's with a 5.672 - 255.39, good enough for the #2 spot at the end of the first qualifying session. They've really stepped up their performances over the past few seasons.

(RIGHT) The oldest Mustang-bodied car in the field came up next, with Rian Konno at the tiller in the "Kajanzian, Lemon & Konno" car. Their opening pass was aborted early, with a 9.307 at only 83.68 coming up on the scoreboards. Despite the slow e.t., it still gave a toehold in the 16-car field, albeit on the bump spot.

(LEFT) Jack-of-all-trades tuner, driver, crewman, Cory Lee showed up in Gary Turner's "Pedaller" Dodge Challenger, and made a strong pass into the middle of the field, landing in the #8 position with an excellent 5.803 - 253.75 pass. They started the week without a blower but a last minute aquisition had them motoring up the Grapevine on Thursday morning and into the show on Friday afternoon.

(RIGHT) The first of the Northwest contingent was next out of the lanes, with Washington state's Michael Peck Sr. in the Camaro-bodied "Instigator". Even with a "slow" 225.48 mph, the 5.778 e.t. moved them into the #7 rung on the ladder. One can only imagine what the result would have been with a full 1320 foot pass.

(LEFT) Coming back to the sport at the end of the 2023 season after a long absence, Stephen "Romo" Romanozzi launched hard with the front wheels dangling off the starting line, but with a DNQ recorded on the qualifying list, either oiled the track or crossed the centerline to negate his timeslip.

(RIGHT) After two years without a winlight, Jerry Espeseth was looking to make some noise with the ex-Jason Rupert "Atlas Labs" Camaro and he started on the right foot with a very good 5.740 - 255.24 to grab the provisional #6 position on the qualifying sheet.

(LEFT) The only Ford-powered Mustang in the field, third-generation racer Drew Austin ran strong for a few hundred feet before problems set in, forcing him to shut down to a 7.185 - 134.26. Despite the slow e.t. he still grabbed a spot near the bottom of the field in the #15 position.

(RIGHT) Closing out our first qualifying session photos was the "Northwest Hitter" of Bucky Austin, driven by six-time defending Funny Car champion in the Heritage Series, Bobby Cottrell. He picked up right where he left off at the end of the 2023 season, pounding out low e.t and top speed of the first session, with a brilliant 5.635 - 256.94 time. With 20 wins in the 29 Heritage races he's entered, it could well be more of the same for the Northwest team in 2024.

FUEL ALTERED - Qualifying Session #1

(LEFT) It looked very good for quite a whlle, but Johnny West ran into some serious directional instability as he approached the 1000' mark in his "Plan A" 23-T roadster. While the scoreboard lit up to the tune of 6.17 - 219.76, the times were DQ'd as he took out all the finish line timing blocks.

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(RIGHT) Taking his annual "busman's holiday" in the "Burkholder Bros." '37 Fiat, world champion Funny Car driver Ron Capps wrestled the very short wheelbase machine down the Famoso strip yet again. It ran well until just past half track before it started skating around and heading for the centerline - does that sound familiar for AA/FA? - forcing him to click it early and post a 6.658 - 205.32 to take the #4 spot on the ladder.